Not a lot transpired at Monday’s Winston-Salem City Council meeting. While not much news was made at the city council meeting, there was an announcement from a representative of the C-SPAN Cities Tour that Winston will be the subject of several features that will air March 17-18 on C-SPAN2 and C-SPAN3. While Winston might not always have a lot of newsworthy events going on, it will always have a lot of history.
I have serious doubts that C-SPAN will examine the working-class history of Winston (the unionization of R.J. Reynolds, the W-S Black Panther Party, the Trials of Darryl Hunt, etc). But C-SPAN will probably cover Old Salem’s Hidden Town project. That’s something positive.
If nothing else C-SPAN will remind its viewers what a poor job our local news channels do covering Winston. C-SPAN will do a professional job. They’ll give us hours of rich content, where local TV channels just give us tidbits.
Other highlights of the city council meeting were the continued debate about the percentage of minority workers at the Ad companies the City was considering using to market the Dixie Classic Fair.
Councilmembers Adams, Taylor, and Clark expressed concern that Councilmember Larson was setting a bad precedent by earmarking funds to a specific project in his ward. Concern was also expressed about the Winston-Salem Chronicle receiving further funding from the City, as part of the City’s Dixie Classic Fair Ad campaign.
Here’s the Winston-Salem City Council’s agenda: City Council, Feb 19, 2018
Tonight’s city council agenda is fairly mundane. I’m curious to see what citizens and activists have to say during the public comment period. #WSNC #WSPol
— Winston Watchman (@WinstonWatchman) February 20, 2018
CSPAN is at the city council meeting. They will be doing a non-fiction look at @CityofWS. Winston, for no larger than it is has a wealth of excellent books on its history. #WSNC #WSPol #WSHistory #NCHistory
— Winston Watchman (@WinstonWatchman) February 20, 2018
There will be a @CSPANCities press conference tomorrow at City Hall. @CSPANCities will be doing several features on Winston, including an in-depth interview with Mayor/W-S Alliance president, Allen Joines. #WSNC
— Winston Watchman (@WinstonWatchman) February 20, 2018
Can’t wait to see your coverage of @CityofWS. @CSPANCities don’t be afraid to be critical of Winston. There’s no need to mythologize our history. If you look closely you’ll still find Jim Crow’s mark on Winston’s geography. #WSNC
— Winston Watchman (@WinstonWatchman) February 20, 2018
The City Council is backtracking on contracting with an outside marketing firm to promote the @dcfair. It’s ironic that the city council has spent so much time debating the minority representation at ad firms for the DIXIE Classic Fair. #WSPol
— Winston Watchman (@WinstonWatchman) February 20, 2018
Councilmember Clark asked for documentation on whether or not the @wschronicle would be used in the City’s Dixie Classic Fair Ad campaign. #WSpol.
— Winston Watchman (@WinstonWatchman) February 20, 2018
Councilmember Taylor and Montegomery’s part-ownership of the @wschronicle might end up costing the paper in the long run. The @CityofWS has been subsidizing The Chronicle for years. #WSNC #WSPol
— Winston Watchman (@WinstonWatchman) February 20, 2018
The City Council was split 4-4 on the resolution to send the matter of the advertising services for the Dixie Classic Fair back to the Finance Com. so that @CityofWS can present its marketing proposal to the council. #WSPol
— Winston Watchman (@WinstonWatchman) February 20, 2018
During the public comment period, a representative of the International We Love You Foundation and a representative of the World Mission Society Church of God spoke. What a strange intersection of city and church. #WSPol
— Winston Watchman (@WinstonWatchman) February 20, 2018
The City Council has adjourned. Not much news to report. But I’m looking forward to the work that @CSPANCities produces in #WSNC during the coming days. It should be a great community resource for years to come. #WSHistory
— Winston Watchman (@WinstonWatchman) February 20, 2018
